Ottawa County Circuit Court Judge Jon Hulsing issued the opinion and order on Tuesday, authorizing Park Township officials to enforce its ban of short-term rentals in residential neighborhoods.
In a statement, Township Supervisor Steve Spoelhof said, “We are grateful for the court’s continued affirmation of the Township Board’s position over the past several years, which is that short-term rentals have not been permitted in residentially zoned neighborhoods since at least 1974.”
Katie Johnson, attorney and board member of nonprofit group Park Township Neighbors representing STR owners, says they’re disappointed by the judge’s ruling. They claim statements made in various forms by township officials over the years never expressly forbid STR’s.
“And it’s just disappointing in general that the law doesn’t hold municipalities accountable for repeated statements over a course of, like, fifty plus years.”
Judge Hulsing stated that prior erroneous statements by zoning administration are not legally binding, but did say that for the past 50 years, the township did not enforce its own ordinance.
Johnson says Park Township Neighbors may file more lawsuits in the future.
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